...imagination has the property of magical expansion, the more it holds the more it will hold. Charlotte Mason 6/43

History must afford its pageants, science its wonders, literature its intimacies, philosophy its speculations, religion its assurances to every man, and his education must have prepared him for wanderings in these realms of gold.Charlotte Mason 6/43

Little potato farmer gleefully harvested an overflowing wheelbarrow full of reds and Yukon Golds! Here's another gardening with kids book we've enjoyed.Big brother's three sisters planting was also a success. Beans actually grew up the corn, and we picked all three sisters at some point during the season corn, beans and pumpkins.

A list of reminders at the top of my page of notes for school planning. Take care, you whom Miss Mason calls a smiling goddess.It's easy to get lost in the scheduling and lose sight of the LIFE we are scheduling.

Year 3 Week 1 Schedule in the works

Last year I did every book on a list someone else made. I wanted to, we did it and enjoyed our time.I also lost a sliver of creativity. That missing piece was in and out for many reasons. With some encouragement from some seasoned homeschool friends, and after all that sacrament talk,I'm stepping out bravely, after a year of experiencing too much.I'm ready, listening carefully to the small voice inside to know which books are enough, which minutes are to be left open. Joy waits there. I''m expectant. Are you?

New this year: I'm starting out the year with a list of what we will cut out if the plans are too much. I also have a plan for how to address those things later. It's always easier to add things in.

I made notes on our schedule of the reminders I need, like the process for copywork by visualization. I learned something new this summer and want to put it in practice.

Bible memory work we want to do together as family, from the text that we are studying together as a family. A little testimony for you- last year I outsourced our memory verse selections to the church kids program (that I always loved.) This is one hard cut we're making this year. We listened to that inner voice. Peace and joy showed up. Just sayin'

A Drop of Water. Who knew!

Unplanned joy! An early morning web. I was in the middle of pre-reading one of our science books, A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder by Walter Wick. I didn't plan a science lesson that day, but the first science lesson of the year happened that day, becausetruly, there was a new web about every 10 steps we went that morning!!

the fog was so heavy we could not see the lake. At. All.

A sopping dandelion that made us think of a soaked cat, that made us start reciting how, "Fog comes on little cat feet...." Oh these moments I want to pause and bottle up for later.

"A spider, Mommy!"

I call themTrinity flowers

Unrelated, yet In regards to freshening up the school room:So far the file cabinet has been cleaned out. 4 garbage bags. Marie Kondo told me storage experts are hoarders. So, I thanked my excess files to be happily on their way out. Right after this I was inspired to Magically Tidy up my sock drawer. (Yay for socks that aren’t yelling at me from the dresser. If you’re wierded out right now, its ok. You have not read her book. HA!)

In celebration of emptier drawers and new shelves that free up desk space,here's one last inspiration I stumbled upon while planning. This PR article called The Home Schoolroom says,"How shall we fit our school room that the child may... retain that eager desire for knowledge...fresh and vigorous."

Two things I am inspired to add to our room this year- a small aquarium, and a dedicated space for a glass-fronted 'museum case.'

"In this should be gathered all the curios obtainable; labelled and classified by the children... These should then be introduced into the lessons as frequently and under as many new aspects as possible." This in turn causes the child to, "remember a whole chain of facts... with pleasure [and] add another link to those he has already made."